The Eychaner Foundation is today launching reportbullyingiowa.com for reporting bullying and harassment in Iowa. Students, parents, teachers and staff may now report bullying easily using the online form.
Executive Director Michael Bowser says, “Iowa law requires both public and private schools to establish policies prohibiting harassment and bullying against students by other students, employees or school volunteers and to quickly investigate any reported incidents. Regrettably it is often difficult for students and parents to find reporting procedures, forms and contact individuals. This online form makes it easy for victims to collect and submit information about the incident to the school, so the school can begin their investigation.”
The form will automatically be sent to the school district for the person reporting by email and US Postal Service. The Eychaner Foundation will additionally track the complaints and release the number and type of reports filed in an annual report to the public and the Iowa Legislature.
Iowa State Senator Matt McCoy says the online reporting form fills a crucial role in understanding the scope of bullying in schools across Iowa. “Each school district and the legislature need an accurate representation of how many students are being bullied. By using this form, the appropriate school employees will know when bullying occurs and the legislature will know the effectiveness of prevention measures and school investigations, and the progress of ending bullying statewide.”
The Eychaner Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to promoting tolerance and non-discrimination. The Eychaner Foundation is dedicated to anti-bullying and has been instrumental in the creation of the Iowa Pride Network and the GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force. The foundation also invests in distinguished minority students through Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program and the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Minority Scholarship in De Kalb, Illinois.
